Game for playing football



April 13 1.926.

J. E. RYAN GAME FOR PLAYING 'FOOTBALL Filed March 25, 1925 .32 Af f) .9

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Y l. 50 (jm/vanto@ I IZZYQW Patented Apr. 13, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE; f

JAMES E. RYAN, OF GRESTON, IOWA.

GAME FOR PLAYING- FOOTBALL.

Appiication mea March 2e, 1925. serial N0.`1s,4s5.

To allwhom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES E. RYAN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at r Creston, in the county of Union and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Game for Playing Football, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved toy game for enabling participants to literally play football at home, the same having ref- 'erence to a toy, by means of whichthe actual game of football as played upon a field is simulated.

The purpose of the game is to enable persons, particularly those interested in actual football games to thoroughly acquaint themselves with the various plays of the game and to permit them to exercise and display skill and knowledge of the game, the devicejbeing both educational and serving to provoke considerable amusement Ato the` participants. l

The invention has more particular reference to a rotatable indicator which is effectively concealed in a housing, this indicator bearing various indicia and instructions for registry with a restricted sight opening, the roller or indicator being set into motion by a mechanical device, which renders the point of stoppage of the roller indefinite, so that varied instructions are given for a selected play, either of advantage or disadvantage,

as the case may be to the respective participants.

In addition to this mechanical device, the invention embodies a novel tally board, enabling an accurate score of the points and clear representation of the various plays to be recorded. y f v The -various features and advantages of the invention will become'apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same: Y

Figure 1 is a front elevation` of the mechanical device, which is operatedbythe various individuals or participants in ascertain-` ing :the instructions to be followed yupon selectedl plays.

Figure 2 is an end elevation, enlarged, of

the device seen in Figure 1,'showing the construction of the mechanical operating means more clearly.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the tally board. l

. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a movable indicator.

Figure 5 is a View showing a linesmans marker.

Figure 6 is a lview of the football used.

Figure 7 is a detail view, of a down recorder.

Referring to thev drawings and conining attention more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the reference character 1 designates a box, the rear wall of which is of considerable elevation as indicated at .2. At the right hand end vand on the front, the box is provided with a standard 3 and a top piece e is connected with the standard and with the top of the back wall 2. Mounted for rotationin the box is a cylinder, constituting an indicator 5. At one end, and on one of its journals, the indicator is equipped with a gear 6. The lower laterally directed end of a spring returned plunger k8 is adapted to .engage'with the teeth of the gear for acting both as a means for imparting rotation to the cylinder, and as a brake for stopping rotation. It will be noted that the plunger is formed on its top with an appropriate knob 9, to facilitate depression. Also, as shown inFigure 2, a guide bracket 10 is employed to insure proper alignment of theplunger with the gear. An appropriate shield 11 extends over the box and cylinder, and this shield is provided on its front side with an elongated slot 12 forming a restrictedsight opening. Rectangular areas 13 are marked off and are disposedfin alignment with the top of the` slot. In 'each area is printed or otherwise displayed an expression 14 defining one of the major plays made in an actual game Yof-football'. ForV sol instance, vsuch expressions as Kick-'0E l Forward pass etc. Cooperating with these areas 13 are designations or instructions carried by the surface of the cylinder 6.

In carrying out this end, the ycylinder vis divided into circumferential bands 16, and these bands are of a corresponding width to the length of the' aforesaid areas k13, each band being divided into circumferential blocks, in which various designations Ilf3-are il l) displayed. For instance, in that band aligned with the area 13 containing the play Ofil tackle we find the expression No game displayed. Inthis same band are various other expressions, such as Two yard loss Five yard gain etc., and these expressions will be brouglit into'alignment with the last named area 13, Vto cooperate therewith in giving instructions for that particular play.

n accessory used in connection with the mechanical devicel just described is the tally board, 17, shown in Figure 3;- This tally board jis provided at the left hand end with an area 1S, in which the various downs are displayed. In this area Awill be found four sockets 19 beside which appear the words First, Second, etc. ,The purpose offthese will be later described. The surface of the board'is'marked off into main lines 20, indicating fiveyard distances, upon the playing field. These five yard lines are accompanied by` numerals, such as 35,l 40, and so on. Between the fivel yard distances are auxiliary lines 22, indicating one yard gains and losses. The board as just niark'ed'depicts an factual foot ball field, the zero marks at the opposite ends indicating` the goals` It will also be observedthat there are two rows of openings 23 and 24 respectively, the openings (1f each row being in fixed alignment. The purpose ofthese will bel referred to later.

In Figure 5 I'show a linesma'ns marker, comprising afiag havingV a pointer and provided lat its opposite end with stakes 26. These stakesare adapted to be placed in the openings 23, forming the uppermost row on the playing field. In Figure G I show a ring 27 provided with a stem 28, and thisis to represent the football. In Figure 7, Ishow a miniature frame 29, having a stem 30, adaptedv to be selectively seated in one of the aforesaidfsockets 19,-to indicate the particulardown at any stage of play.

Assuming .that itv is desired to eng-age in a foot ball battle, and that two' participants are to play, it will be seen that-the indicator 31' (Figure 4) havingthe hooked-end 32 is-hooked overV the edge of the sight opening 12and isvmoved along as a slideto indicate to the opponents-what play is to be made. For instance, when the game is startechnone participant who is supposed to kick-off, places the indicator 31 opposite the area 13 bearing the, expression Kickolf. He now-depresses the -plunger 8 and in s'o doing'fsets the cylinder 5 into rotation. Thev momentum imparted to the cylinder rotates itrapidly, and as soon asthe plunger is released-the spring returns to its raised position,-y and the laterally directed lower end thereof constitutes a brace'engaging the gear G and stopping the cylinder instantly. In so doing, any one of the numerous instructions displayed in the band l5, opposite the kick off area may come to vieu'. For example, :is shown, the expression :ieturned to 2O yard line is displayed. This means that the opponent who is the recipient of the ball, places the ball on his twenty yard line and proceeds to rush the same up they field. At thispoint of play the participants stop to place the ball 27 in the opening 2lion the twenty-yard line onthe right hand side ofthe center of the field. This indicates the position of the ball. The marker 25 is now brought into playV and one stake is anchored in the hole 23 opposite the last named hole 24, while they other stake is anchored on the thirty yard line, thus serving to indicate the portion of ground that must be gained Within the alloted fourth down. lV ith the ball in the opponentsl hand, the opponent must indicate what'play he contemplates making upon the first down. To do this, he moves the slide or indicator 31` opposite the area 13 selected. In this instance, he must exercise his own skill iu selecting a play which would be carried ouiI under corresponding conditions, or on au actual playing field. Assume that he desired to proceed on the first down with a line buck. Obviously, he moves .the slide, as shown in Figure '1, opposite this indication. He now spins the cylinder, and when it stops, it displays the expression Two yard gain. Then he moves the ball 27 up two yards. Of course, any one of a number of numerous indications could have come into ,sight at this time, for instance, it may have been a fumble, and the other side would take the ball, possibly at a one or two yard loss. The operator proceeds to play until he loses the ball to the other side, and if, in themeantime, he scores any points, .these are placed upon an appropriate score card, and added, when the game is over. It is ofcourse, understood that the member 29 is employed in the socket 19, to indicate the various downs, after each play is made.

In order that the reader may obtain a more definite idea of the rules of play, attention is directed to the following.:

The procedure ofpla-y is in every respect governed bythe official rules of foot ball, except that in this game, the place or drop kick is only permissible when on or inside the 30 yard line.

The following extracts from the oicial rules are submitted.

The length ofy the game shall be minutes, divided into four periods-of 15 minutes each, exclusive of time taken out, although it may be of shorter duration, by mutual agreement.

Touchdown 6 points Successful try after touchdown l point Goal from the field 3 points Safety by opponents 2 points.

A touchdown is made when the ball,

4 lawfully in possession of a player, is deelared dead by the referee, any part of it being on, above or behind the opponents goal line.

A try-for-point is the privilege granted the side which has made a touchdown to add one additional point to its score by successfully executing a single play from scrimmage.

A goal from the field is made by kicking the ball from the field of play either by a drop kick or a place kick over the cross bar of the opponents goal.

. A safety is made when the-ball in possession of a player guarding his own goal is declared dead, any part of it being on, above or behind the goal line, provided the impetus which caused it to pass from outside the goal line to or behind the goal line was given by the side defending' the goal.

If in four consecutive downs a team, having constantly had the ball in its possession, shall not have advanced the ball yards, it shall go to the opponents on the spot of the fifth down.

The present toy game is likened to the actual game, in that it is primarily a game of skill and stratagem, and luck enters only in a very minor degree. The game, as actually constructed, is compiled strictly from actual statistics gathered from evenly matched college games, the outcomes of which would have been altered had the system of plays been improperly directed.

That is true with the present game. In thls game, the players are themselves the field generals and must direct each play.

kl-Ience, the benefit derived from a device of this kind cannot be over-exaggerated.

It is thought that the description, taken in connection with the drawings, will enable persons skilled in games of this kind to obtain a very clear understanding of the same, and for this reason a more lengthy description is deemed unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically described and shown, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention may be resorted to, if desired.

I claim:

In a game of the class described, a housing comprising a boX substantially covered by an arcuate shield having a sight opening formed therein, there being marked areas along one edge of the opening bearing words and phrases designating plays to be made, a rotary indicator mounted for rotation in said housing and embodying circumferential marked bands aligned with the aforesaid areas and containing various results capable of being obtained from said plays, a gear carried by the rotary indicator, a vertically disposed plunger, a support on said box for said plunger, the lower end of said plunger being directed laterally to provide a lug for cooperation with the teeth of said gear, a coil spring surrounding the plunger between the support and head on the upper end of the plunger, a guide for said plunger, and a separate and independent element embodying a hook slidably mounted in said sight opening and adapted for cooperation with the aforesaid areas.

In testimony whereof I 'aix my signature.

JAMES E. RYAN. 

